Patti Smith Biography: On December 30, 1946, Patricia Lee Smith—better known as Patti Smith—was born. She was exposed to music at a very young age and has gone on to become one of the most well-known performers in the rock and music industries. She is a well-versed poet who became a major player in the punk rock movement in 1970s New York by combining poetry with music. Among her many honors is her admission into the Hall of Fame. She is an enthusiastic campaigner as well as a gifted writer. Let’s commemorate her special day.
Patti Smith Biography:
Early Life
Patricia Lee Smith, better known by her stage name Patti Smith, was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 30, 1949. Her astrological sign is Capricorn, and she has some Irish ancestry. She has three younger siblings, Linda, Kimberly, and Todd, and is the daughter of Beverly and Grant Smith. Her family relocated to Philadelphia and later to New Jersey when she was growing up.
Her mother handed her recordings, which she listened to as a child. After completing her studies at Deptford Township High School, she worked in a factory, went to Glassboro State College, and eventually moved to Manhattan, New York, where she became friends with poet Janet Hamill and photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in 1967. Smith relocated to Paris, France, in 1969, where she began performing arts and busking. She eventually came back to Manhattan, where she cohabitated with Mapplethorpe in the renowned Chelsea Hotel. During this time, she wrote and performed, honing her skill.
Career
Smith began performing her songs in 1974, first with Lenny Kaye and then with a full band; they went by the name Patti Smith Group. The band recorded “Hey Joe/Piss Factory,” their debut single, that same year. In 1975, the group’s debut album, “Horses,” came out after Arista Records signed them. The album featured a Mapplethorpe cover photo, which went on to become one of the most recognizable images in rock history, and combined poetry with the then-emerging punk rock genre.
The following year saw the release of “Radio Ethiopia,” the band’s second album, and they started touring the United States and Europe. The group’s 1978 releases included “Easter,” Smith’s most commercially successful album, and “Because the Night,” her most popular song (co-written with Bruce Springsteen). The group released “Wave,” their fourth studio album, the following year. Smith temporarily gave up music in the 1980s to spend more time with her recently established family, but she did release her fifth album, “Dream of Life,” in 1988. The song “People Have the Power” was one of them.
Smith made a little tour with Bob Dylan in 1995. She released her sixth album, “Gone Again,” the following year, and co-wrote the song “E-Bow The Letter” with R.E.M. Patti Smith seventh studio album, “Peace and Noise,” was released in 1997. Her eighth studio album, “Gung Ho,” which was released in 2000, was her follow-up.
Her debut album on Columbia Records, “Trampin’,” her ninth album, was released in 2004. In 2007, Smith released her tenth album, “Twelve,” an all-covers record, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “Patti Smith: Dream of Life,” a documentary, was made on her the next year. Smith’s memoir, “Just Kids,” about her life in 1970s New York, was published in 2010. “Banga,” her eleventh studio album, was released in 2012. “Horses: Patti Smith and her Band,” Smith’s concert-documentary film, had a highly praised world premiere at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival.
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Patti Smith Biography: Net Worth and Height
| Name |
Patricia Lee Smith |
| Date of Birth | December 30, 1946 |
| Age | 77 |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Height | 5′ 8″ |
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Net Worth | $4 million |
| Social Media |
Reasons We Love Her
She is a legendary rock star.
Smith worked with several well-known performers, made a substantial contribution to the punk rock movement, and is still active today. Her work has served as an inspiration to several artists, such as Courtney Love, Madonna, Florence and the Machine, Morrissey, Sonic Youth, and U2.
She is who she is without apology.
Being a woman who didn’t care about her beauty and succeeding in a male-dominated field doesn’t seem like an easy feat. Smith, on the other hand, fought to get a job in the music business without changing who she was in the slightest, and it worked!
She truly is an activist.
Smith composed a few protest songs and championed numerous worthy causes throughout the years. She donates to philanthropic organizations and frequently speaks out against injustice and violations of human rights.
5 facts About Her
She is a prolific author.
Although Smith’s most well-known work is “Just Kids,” between 1972 and 2019, she released 25 other books.
Her book was a success
It was the 2010 National Book Award winner for “Nonfiction.”
She is not a Grammy winner.
She has received four nominations over the years and is a well-known musician, yet she has never taken home a Grammy.
As a Jehovah’s Witness
Smith was brought up as a Jehovah’s Witness and eventually abandoned the faith when he was a teenager.
She graduated from Columbia.
Columbia University granted Smith an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2022.
